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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cork-Dublin, Cork Commuter and occasionally DART and Dublin-Wexford
Posts: 855
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[Irish Rail News] Midleton line Railway Order process underway
Quote:
Midleton line Railway Order process underway by Corporate Communications
Iarnród Éireann has said that advertisements are to appear in local and national newspapers from today (Friday 26th May) to commence the Railway Order process for the restoration of rail services on the Cork-Midleton rail line.
An integral part of the Transport 21 investment programme, the upgrade and restoration of the ten kilometre Glounthaune to Midleton line will enable Iarnród Éireann to begin commuter services between Cork and Midleton.
Services proposed on the route would be initially peak services every 30 minutes between Midleton and Cork, with the potential to expand to every 15 minutes as demand increases. Off-peak services would operate hourly, and all services would be operated by commuter railcars. It is envisaged that the line would reopen in 2008.
The project proposes:
- upgrading track on the disused Glounthaune to Midleton line, through provision of a single track with a passing loop at Carrigtwohill
- providing a new signalling system
- provision of two new stations at Midleton and Carrigtwohill, including car parking facilities, lifts and footbridges
- the replacement of five level crossings with four new overbridges and one underbridge, including overbridges on the Cork-Glounthaune section of line
- other infrastructure work including bridge, boundary and drainage works
The Railway Order process, the equivalent of a planning permission process for a rail scheme of this type, provides for a Public Inquiry to be established to establish the final scope of the project, and rule on Compulsory Purchase Order powers for Iarnród Éireann.
Full details of the project will be on display in seven locations in Cork, Carrigtwohill and Midleton (see below) to allow the public and interested parties to study the plans and make submissions if they wish. Information will also be available on line at www.irishrail.ie/midletonproject .
The Midleton line works are part of a wider programme of investment to expand Cork area commuter services. New stations are also planned at Dunkettle on the Cork-Cobh/Midleton line; and Blarney and Blackpool/Kilbarry on the Cork-Mallow line.
The Cork commuter area investment plan is endorsed by national, regional and local planning, such as the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP), Strategic Rail Review and Special Local Area Plans, as well as Transport 21.
A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said “ the development of the Midleton line is an integral part of a framework for land use, transportation, social and environmental policies in the Cork region which sees Cork take the lead in sustainable planning in this country. This will deliver a system which will benefit generations to come in Cork and in the Munster region. There has been tremendous public support for this major investment, and we would encourage the community and interested parties to avail of the opportunity to see the plans for the Midleton line in any of the seven locations, or online.”
GLOUNTHAUNE TO MIDLETON LINE FAQs
Q. WHEN WILL THE GLOUNTHAUNE TO MIDLETON LINE BE IN USE AGAIN?
A. It is expected that trains will be running to Midleton before the end of 2008.
Q. WHAT KIND OF TRAINS WILL RUN AND HOW OFTEN?
A. The same kind of trains will run on the Cork to Midleton line as run on the Cork to Cobh line today. i.e. two-car commuter railcars. It is intended to commence the service by running trains half-hourly for the morning and evening peak demand periods and hourly during the day and off-peak. Services can expand further in response to demand.
Q. WILL THERE BE DISRUPTION TO EXISTING SERVICES WHILE NEW TRACK AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT ARE BEING BUILT?
A. There will be unavoidable disruption to existing road traffic in the vicinity of the existing railway line and two stations during the construction phase of the works at limited times during the development of the project. Iarnród Éireann will endeavour to minimise this, but the full extent of disruption will be confirmed following the public inquiry and detailed design work.
Q. WHAT IS THE RAILWAY ORDER AND PUBLIC INQUIRY?
A. The Railway Order is the equivalent of a planning permission process for railway line, stations and elimination of level crossings.
It also covers Compulsory Purchase Order powers for Iarnród Éireann and gives Iarnród Éireann full operating rights over the new railway.
Under the Railway Order, Iarnród Éireann will be displaying the full plans for the Project at various different locations for a period of 28 days. This is to allow all interested parties to view the plans.
Any interested party then has the opportunity up to 14 days after the end of the display period to submit any views they have on the project to the Minister for Transport.
All submissions, including the original plans, are then the subject of a public inquiry, chaired by an Inspector appointed by the Minister for Transport. The Inspector shall submit to the Minister a report in writing of the findings of the inquiry and any recommendations he/she considers appropriate having regard to the inquiry.
The Minister will rule on the final scope of the project and CPO powers for Iarnród Éireann.
Q. WILL THERE BE COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDERS?
A. Under the Iarnród Eireann proposal, there will be certain areas of land required not currently in the ownership of the company. This includes land to facilitate the project which may be permanently acquired; land over which rights including rights of way may be acquired; public or private rights of way which may be extinguished; public or private rights of way which may be temporarily interrupted; and land of which temporary possession may be taken. All affected landowners will be contacted directly by Iarnród Éireann to advise them of the scope of impact proposed on their property.
Q. DOES THE GLOUNTHAUNE TO MIDLETON RAILWAY PROJECT HAVE A WIDER SCOPE?
A. The project is part of wider infrastructure plans required for the growth of the Commuter rail service for the County and will include new stations at Dunkettle, Blackpool and Blarney and various other works such as signalling and station upgrades.
Q. WHAT IS THE TIMESCALE ENVISAGED FOR THE PROJECT?
A. Assuming the Public Inquiry takes place in late summer 2006, detailed design and tender of the works are envisaged to take place up to the end of 2006, with construction taking place from early 2007 to late 2008.
Q. WHAT ARE THE COSTS ENVISAGED FOR THE PROJECT?
A. The final costs will be determined by the ruling of the Minister following the Public Inquiry, detailed design work and any inflationary pressures up to the signing of contracts.
Q. WILL THE GLOUNTHAUNE TO MIDLETON LINE BE EXTENDED TO YOUGHAL AGAIN?
A. Although there is no plan to re-use this line from Midleton to Youghal in the short to medium term; the County Planners have reserved the existing railway reserve for the potential reuse of the railway.
Q. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE GLOUNTHAUNE TO MIDLETON LINE PROJECT?
The full Railway Order documentation, including:
- Plans of the Route
- Alignment Plans
- Structure Plans
- Draft legal order and schedules to the order
- Environmental Impact Statement, in full and summary form
are on display from 26th May to 6th July 2006 at the following locations:
Cork City Council, Planning and Development Directorate, Navigation House, Albert Quay, Cork
Cork Central Library, Grand Parade, Cork
Cork County Council, Corporate Affairs Department, 14th Floor, County Hall, Cork
Midleton Town Council, Pearse Memorial Chambers, Youghal Road, Midleton, County Cork
Midleton Public Library, Main Street, Midleton, County Cork
Carrigtwohill Community Centre, Main Street, Carrigtwohill, County Cork
Iarnród Éireann Travel Centre, Kent Railway Station, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork
Information will also be displayed shortly in pdf format at: www.irishrail.ie/midletonproject
Full copies of the documentation are also available to purchase from the Iarnród Éireann Travel Centre in Kent Railway Station, Cork; and the Project Office, Inchicore Works, Dublin 8.
The Project office can also be contacted for those seeking information on the project at: 021-455 7255 and 01-7034228 or midletonproject@irishrail.ie
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26-05-2006, 12:45
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